Community Health gets US OK to buy HMA

Hospital operator Community Health Systems Inc (CYH.N) has won approval to buy Health Management Associates Inc (HMA.N) on the condition that it sell hospitals in Alabama and South Carolina, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission said on Wednesday. The deal was valued at $3.9 billion when it was announced by the companies in July. The FTC, which includes debt in its calculations, put the value at $7.6 billion. Community Health Systems, the second-largest for-profit U.S. hospital operator, said in July that it would buy Florida-based Health Management, a smaller rival, to strengthen its base of operations as the U.S. healthcare system is overhauled under President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act.